Frame structure



D. J. MURNANE.

FRAME STRUCTURE.

APPLLCATION man NOV.27, 1918.

i 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

2- Lab;

Patented May 3 u. 1. MU RNANEL FRAME STRUCTURE.

- APPLICATION FILED N0\ 27,19|8.

1921, SHEET 2.

Patented May 3 4 S H E ET 8 D. J- MURNANE.

FRAME STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.27,19l8.

1,376,895, Patented May 3,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

0.1. MURNANE. FRAME STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION. FILED NOV. 27, 1918.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

lamented my 3, i921.

Application filed iwwem erav, 1918. Serial 110,264,313.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL J MURNANE,

a citizen of the United States, residing at. Chicago Heights, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new an useful Improvement in Frame Structures,

7 of which the following'is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in frame structures require ing the properties of great rigidity and strength with minimum weight, an 1nstance of such a framefstructure being the frames used in aeroplane construction, as,

for example, the frames of elevators and rudders, my -invention having been devised, more particularly, for embodiment in frames of this general character.

Mv primary object is to produce in a highly economical manner, frames possessing great rigidity and strength of highly stable character with the minimum. of material, and without requiring welding'at the joints between frame-members.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

wherein I have chosen to illustrate my 1nvention as embodied in'an aeroplane elevator- Figure his a face view of the frame of the'elevator; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged sections taken at the lines 2'2, 3- 3, and

44 on Fig. .1, and viewed in the direction.

of the respective arrowls, Fig. 5 is a side view of the construction shown in Fig. 4; F ig 6 is an enlarged view in sideelevation of one of the corners of the frame; Fig, 7 is a section taken at'the line 7-7 on Fig. 6 and'viewed in the'direction of the arrows; Fig, 8 is a section taken at the line 8-8 on Fig. 6, and viewed in the d rection f the arrows; Fig. 9 is a broken view in side elevation of the joint between one of, the main members of the frame and a cross-member thereof; Fig. 10 is a section taken at the line- 10 on Fig. 9 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 11 is a section taken at the ,line 11- 11 on Fig. 9, and viewed in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 12 is a view in elevation of the joint between certain intersecting cross-members ;'Fig. 13 1s a section taken at the line 1313 on Fig. 12 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; Flg. 14 is a sec tion takenat the line 14 on-Fig. 12 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Fig.

' 15 is a view in sideelevation of one of the I main members of the frame and one of the similar hinge members connected therewith; Fig. 16 is a section taken at the line 16- -16 on Fig. 15, and viewed-in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 17 is a view in side elevation of one of the main frame members and a cross-member of the frame, together with the v parts to whiohthe elevator-operating devices are. attached; Fi 18 is a sectional view taken at right-ang es to the view in Fig. 17, with certain parts shown in section and. others in elevation; Fig. 19"is a section taken at the line 19-19 on Fig. 18, and viewed in the direction of the arrows Fig. 20 is a sect on taken at the irregular line 2 020 on Fig.17, and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 21, a view like 2 showing a modification. e

4 ferring -to Fig.- l, the frame structure therein shown comprises, generall stated, the main tubular members 21 an 22, the member 21 being straight and the member 22 of general U-shape, affording the two side sections 23 and 24 and a connecting section 25,- the side sections 23 and 24 being connected at their ends with the frame member 21; and cross-members 26, 27 28, 29, 30 and 31, itf-being understood that the particular number of cross-members and their arrange-- ment as shown is not necessary in the carry-.

in .out of myinvention.

he frame member 21, which is hollow and preferablyof general circular shape in cross-section, is formed of the-body-portion 32 (Fig. 10) with webs, or flanges 33, extending in parallel relation lengthwise along thebody-member 32, this member, with its flanges 33, being. preferably formed from a single sheet of metal, as, for example, steel. Inthe manufacture of the member 21 the flanged portion 33 is preferably made. of

such a depth throughout the length of the member that the desired rigid connection of .the adjacent marginal frame member and the cross-members therewith may be provided as hereinafter described, and between these various joints the flanged portion 33 is cut awayor reduced to leave the flange of such depth only that these flanges may be secured together at intervals to the desired degree in any suitable manner, as by spot-welding, as indicated at 34, the idea being to make this member 21 as light as poss1ble, andstill cause itft'b present the desired strength.

The member 23 is formed the same way as the frame-member- '21, its hollow bodyportion, represented at 35, being preferably elongated in cross-section when used in the particular construction shown, as representf ed at Fig.8, rather than "circular, and in order that this framemember may be bent into the desired shape, as, for example, the

-' general U-shape represented in Fig. 1, the

flanges of the member 22 and correspondingw th the flanges '33 of the member 21 are entlrely cut away, except at the joints between the mcmber22 and the frame member 21 and cross members 26, 28, 29, 30 and 31, and the rtions, represented at 36, at'whlch these i anges are secured together in any suitable way, as by spot-welding. If desired, the opposed edges of the metal Latthe points where l the flanges 36 are entirely. omitted may be a; brazed... or welded together, and if desired ortion 32: as stated. The

rame-member 22' as explained," permits 10f. it being readily-bent into the general U-" 'the' flange-portions 36 may be omitted and the securing between the remaining portions of the flanges-of the member 22 be by brazing or welding theopposed edges of thebodyihape illustrated, or int o any other desired orm.- 1. v .1.- The connection of the ends of the frame member 22 with the. frame member-21 is by means of the joints representedat '37 and 38,,

these joints being constructed in the. same way, and therefore a detailed illustration of. but one of the joints,- namely the joint .37,'is

presented, this joint being shown in Figs.

6, land 8, and ofwhich the following is a.

description; Informing the member 23 the flanged portion 36 thereof at the upper end "of this member is of-.fulldepth,-this flange extending to-the dotted line 38 in Fig. 6, and the hollow portion 35 of this ;member isflattened these'por'tions of the member 23 being telescoped with theadjacent end of the member 21, which is so formed that its flanges 33 at the. extremity thereof are relativelydeep, as represented, and the end of this member 21 is drawndown to closelyiit against the flattened end ofthe hollow per tion 35" which it straddles, as shown, rivets,

or other fastenin means, represented atAO,

.as the partlally flattene ormation of the olding them in osit on, one of these .represented at 44, or any ot shown in 9, 10 and 11. In accordance with this e'ature of my invention, the flanges 33 at the point' where the crossmember 29 is to be connected with the member 21, are left relatively deep, as shown in Fig. 10, in the forming of the frame member 21, and the upper end of the cross-member 29 is partially flattened and slotted at opposite. ends, as represented at 29, in order that it may snugly fit over the flanges 33 at this point, preferably with a stra member 41, substantiall end of the member 29 at its widest dimension, interposed between the flanges 33 and the member 29, to avoid the flattening of the upper end of the member 29 to such a degree that it will impair its strength. The parts of the joint bearing the re ationsjust explained are secured. to ether in andesirable way, as through '31s medium 0 rivets represented at 100 passing through these overlapped parts,

the upper extremity of the cross-member 29 at opposite sides of the flanges 33 preferably bearing endwise a ainst the body 32 of the member 21. WhiIe the joints between the cross-members and the frame-member 21 involve the slotting of the cross-members as stated, such slotting of the cross-members where they connectwith the frame-member 22 is omitted'in view of the elimination of the flanges 36 at opposite sides of the joints.

I The intersectingv bars 27,28 and 29 are connected together by means also forming a feature'of .my invention, a description of these means being as follows: In the-parof the same widt ticular arrangement shown, the cross-bar 29 is continuous, extending from the framem-ember 21 to the frame-section 25, and the bars 27 and 28extendfrom .the cross-bar 26 and frame-section 23, respectively, to the bar 29, to which latter they are rigidlyvconnectedlo the joint to be described. The ends of t e bars 27 and 28 adjacent the bar 29 are preferably cut away to conformingly fit the sides of the bar 29, against which they abut, as shown in Fig. 12, and applied to these bars thus arranged in intersecting re: lation, are'plates 4:2 which are of the same construction, but provided as rights .and lefts, and. applied to the intersecting bars inFig. 131 I These plates are so constructed that they conformingly fit about the hollow barswhich-xthey op ose, and at the angles from opposite sides thereof, as represented provided between t ese bars are inwardly oflset, as ,representedat 43, to cause these 'plates at these portions to extend closely ad jacent to each other, but so proportioned Y "withirelation to the cross-bars that in securing these plates to the latterilasby rivets er suitable means, these plates in being drawn together toward each other at these inset portions,

against, the surfaces of the cross-bars which they oppose, thus holding the cross-bars with a vise-like grip. To avoid any possible play between the bars and clamping plates, 1 employ metal locks shown as provided between the plates 42 and the bars 27, -28 and 29. These metal locks are provided by depressing the metal of the bars 27 28 and 29, as represented at 45, and providing apertures 46 in these. plates in registration with the openings 45, and after securing the plates and bars together as stated, any suitable metal, such as Babbitt metal, is poured through the openings 46 into the spaces pro vided by the depressed. ortions 45, thus forming the metal locks 4 which enhances the anchoring eifect.

As'is well understood in the'art, an aero plane elevator is mounted to have pivotal movementas through the medium of pivots or hinges.

the same, one of them being shown in detail in Figs. 15 and 16. The head comprises a of the member 21,-these parts being rigidly body-portion 49 provided with an upwardly extending journaling section 50 of any suitable construction, and adapted to receive the pivot or hinge-rod not shown, this particular portion also having depending-flanges 51 The body-portion 49 conformingly fits the body 32 of the frame-member 21, and at its flanges 51 embraces the'flanged portion 33 connected together in the relation stated, as through the medium of rivets, or any other suitable means, represented at 51, the parts being preferably so proportioned that in the fastening operation stated the journalheads 48 will be caused to very firmly and forcibly contact with the frame-member 21.

The same general form of joint as that shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14 is employed at the juncture of the bar 27 ,with the bar 26. In this case, however, instead of providing two separate plates 42, a single plate, illustrated at 53, is provided, this plate'presenting a body-portion 54 of general'circular shape in cross-section, which embraces the bar 26, being preferably-locked theretoby the metal locks 55 like the metal locks 47,

and conforming-1y fitting at its opposed cross-bar 27, with these'plate-sections. be

' tween which the cross-bar 27 is confined, in-

at 57. J

In the particular construction illustrated,

the cross-bar 26 is equipped with 1aterally-.

extending sections, in the form of arms or intermediate In the particular constructionillustrated, provision is made for this by brackets, for connection with the mechanism for tilting the elevator, in either direction -'upon its pivotal support. These arms or brackets are shown as provided on the upper end of the cross-bar 26, and their connection with this, bar, according to the preferred with the member 21, and as illustrated in Fig.18. The bracket-sections referred to and represented at 58, these sections extending in opposite directions, are formed from aislngle sheet of metal having a deflected portion 59, which conformingly ts against the hollow crossmember 26, as shown in Fig. '19, thus embracing it. At intervals along the brackets 58, as shown at the top and closeto the bot .to m of these brackets, the brackets carry' cl1ps60 and 61 which at their deflected sections 62 conformingly fit against the opposite side of the cross-bar 26, these clips being rigidly secured at their marginal portions 63 to the arms 58, as'through the medium' of rivets64, these parts'being so constructed that in the securing of thearms 58 and-clips 60 and 61 together, these parts will be drawn ginto rigid engagement with the cross-bar 26,

to produce a rigid structure. The upper portion ofthe bracket members 58 and the clip 60 preferably are shaped to conformingly fit the underside of the body-member. '32 of the frame-member 21, as shown in Fig. 18, and the lower end of the portion 59 preferably abuts against the upper portion ofthe member 53 to augment the rigidity of. the structure. To reduce weight the metal of the portion 59 and the part 53 is cut away at 59* and 53, respectively. As a variation from the described method of forming the frame members, it may be stated that if desired instead of forming these members from sheets of metal, they may be formed from tubes drawn down to present the .desired tubular body-section with lengthwise-extending flanges, the crosssectional view of such memberso, formed being shown in Fig. 21. I

' From the foregoing description'it wlll be understood that by constructing the marginal frame members a"s"; explained, and connecting the cross-members thereto as described, 21 very rigid and substantial frame of a very durable character and of relatively light weight may be very economically produced. Furthermore, theyarious jointsillustrated and described are highly effective in producing a rigid structure capable of withstanding reat strains, with high economy of materia and at low cost, and

while variousfeatures of my invention are illustrated and described in connection with an aeroplane frame structure, itwill be readtively deep at-the points of juncture with and the flattened portion of. the other of said 7 nected therewith.

ily understood that they maybe incorporated in structures for other purposes withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. a What I claim as new, and desire to-secure by Letters -P'atent, is: 4

1. A frame-structure formed of marginalframe-members comprising hollow portions,

each with a' pair of flanges integral therewith, said flanges opposing each other and extending lengthwise of said hollow portions carrying them, and cross-members straddling said flanges and 1n such (ZOIIdltlOIIGOIl- 2. A frame-structure frame members comprising hollow portions with flange-sections. extending length-wise ofw the same, and cross-members straddlihgsaid flange-sections and in such condition connected therewith, said flange-sections being relatively deep atthe points of juncture withsaid cross-members, and said. flange-sectlons being fastened together at other points to render the frame membersrigid. 3. A frame-structure formed of marginal frame members comprising hollow portions.-

with flange-sections fextending lengthwise along the same and fitting iflatwiseitegether, and cross-members straddling -said flange sections and in such condition, connected therewith, said flange-"sections being relasaid cross-members'and fastened together at other points to render the'frame members 4. A joint comp sing two hollow members extendin in an a lar relation to each other an having ho ow portions and flange-sections extending lengthwise thereof and beyond ends ofi said-v hollow" portions, said flange-sections being "arranged in overlapped relation with the flange-sections of one of said members located between the flange-sections of the other of said members,-

tened port-ions being arranged in 'overlapped relation, with the flan e-section and the flattened body-portion ,0 one of. said members located between the flange-sectionmembers.

and means. securing'said members together;

6. A jointcomprising two hollow mem bers extending in an angular relation'to each other and-having hollow body-portions and flange-sections extending lengthwise thereof, the ends of said body-portions being formed of marginal tween'said members, certain of sai v containing'depress ons in their-surfaceswith "an opening in said plate-sections reg'- flattened, and said flange-sections extending beyond the-unflatte'ned ends of said hollow port1ons,*said flang'e sections and said flattene'd portions being arranged'in overlapped 1 relation, with the flange section andthe flattened body-portion of one of said members locatedbetween the flange section and the flattened portion ofthe otherof said mem" bers, and means extending through the fiattened portions of said body-portions and through said flange-sections thereof for se curmlg saidmembers'togethera tions being relatively deep at a portion thereof, a cross-member having a socketforming end slotted at opposite" sides thereoint compnsmg'a member formed of I a hollow portion having flange-sections ex.-

tending lengthwise thereof, saidflange-sec- '80 of, said socket-forming end surrounding the relatively deep portion of said flange-sectlons and straddling the portion of the latterclos'ely adjacent said hollow portion, and means extending through said'cross-member and flange-sections for holding said inembers together.

8.- A joint comprising members'extendin in an angular relation to each"' other," an I V securing means therefor formed ofplate-- SQCtIOIlS secured to extend at opposite 1 sides 7 of said members and conformmgl fitting aga nst the latter with the metalro said' securmg' means extending into the an Ice be a memistering with each of said depressions and with-metal cast in said depressions through said openings. l v.

9. metal lock for overlapping members, comprising a body of metal cast througha-n the cross-sectional area of said depression being greater than that-ofsaid opening;

10. In a frame-structure,-' the combination of a frame member formed of a hollow port1on with flange-section's-extending length- 10 opening in one of .=said ;-members into a de presslon 1n the other of said members and extending into sald depression and opening,-

wise thereof, and a journal-head formed of a hollow body having flangesalong one side and containing-an opening for a shaft, the

hollow body of said journal-head surrounding the hollow portion of said frame-mem her and the flanges of said head overlapping said flange-sections, and :memsconnecting sald partstogether at said flanges and flange-sections.

11. In a frame adapted-' for pivotal'support, the combination of arcross member and a device connected therewith for attach- "nient' to means for rocking-said frame, said device comprlslng a plate presenting oppo-' sltely-extendmg portions, with an intermediate off-set portion at which said platestraddles'said cross-member, and a plate 10- cated at the opposite sideof said cross-member and connected with said first-named plate and having an off-set section at which said second-named plate straddles said crossmember.

12. In a frame adapted for pivotal support, the combination of a frame-member, a A

cross-member connected therewith, and a device connected with said cross-member for attachment to means for rocking said frame, said device comprising a plate presenting oppositely extending'portions with an intermediate off-set portion at which said plate straddles said cross member, and a plate located at the opposite side of said crossmember and connected with said first-named plate and having an oif-set section at which said second-named plate straddles said crossmember, the edgeportions of said plates adj acent said frame-member conformingly fitting the side Walls of the latter.

13. A frame-member formed from an integral body of metal into a hollow body-portion with.flange-scctions extending lengthwise thereof and having portions of the flange-sections cut away to permit the framemember to be bent into curved condition.

14. A frame structure comprisin a framemember formed of. a hollow bo y-portion with flange-sections extending 1e hwise thereof, said flange-sections being re atively deep at certain portions only thereof, and cross-members connected with said flangesections at the relatively deep portions thereof.

15. A frame-structure comprisin aframemember formed of a hollow bo y-portion with flange-sections extending lengthwise entirely cut away at other portions thereof,

and cross-members connected with said flange-sections at relatively deep. portions thereof.

16. A frame-member formed from an integral body of metal into a hollow bodyportion with flange-sections extending lengthwise ithereof, portions of the bodyportion being unflanged to permit the framemember to be bent into curved condition.

17. A frame-member formed from an integral body of metal into a hollow bodyportion with flange-sections lengthwise thereof, portions of the body portion being unflanged to permit the framemember-to be bent into curved condition, the metal at the unflanged portions thereof being united.

18. A frame-member formed from an integral body of metal intoa hollow body-portion with flange-sections extending lengthwise'thereof, portions of the body-portion being unflanged to permit the frame-member to be bent into curved condition, and

means fastening together the opposed edges of the frame-member.

19. A frame-member formed from an integral body of metal into a hollow body-portion with flange-sections extending lengthwise thereof, portions of the body-portion being unflanged to permit the frame-member to be bent into curved condition, and means for fastening the opposed edges of the framemember engaging the flange-sections of saidmember.

DANIEL J. MURNANE.

extending 

